Tuesday, 28 August 2012

Go see: London Road

The National Theatre is currently showing one of the best shows I've seen in a while, 'London Road'.

The play is only running until the 6th September, so you need to be quick to make sure you don't miss out. You can buy tickets here.London Road, by Alecky Blythe and Adam Cork, is based on the famous Ipswich Murders of 2006. Ipswich, a quiet, rural, town, was shattered when the bodies of five prostitutes were found. Steven Wright, the resident of 79 London Road, was later found guilty of their crimes. The murders, although tragic, played a key role in bringing the community closer together; however it is interesting to observe the pack mentality of the community, particularly when faced with the alleged murderer going by in a police van.

The cast are utterly fantastic. They each play around three characters, however the transformation - not just physical but in mannerisms and speech patterns too - means that you are never confused. The lyrics and music are unusual and unique, inspired by the original recordings of witnesses at the time of the crime. At times during the performance, recordings are played, a stark reminder that this isn't fiction.

I won't give too much away (unless, of course, you already know the story), but I urge you to go while it's still on. Tickets are only £12, and if you have an entry pass membership, you can get tickets for only £5! Highly recommended.